Abstract
Economically feasible strategies for year-round feed supply to dairy cattle are needed to improve feed resource availability, milk yield and household income for the smallholder dairy farming systems that predominate in the rural Eastern and Central African region. Currently, Napier grass ( Pennisetum purpureum ) is the major forage in zero-grazing production systems, but dry-season production is often constrained. Our results from 24 farms show that sowing forage legumes, including Centrosema molle (formerly C. pubescens ) and Clitoria ternatea, with Napier grass and Brachiaria hybrid cv. Mulato improved both yield of forage and protein concentration. Sowing of 0.5 ha Napier-Centro plus 0.5 ha of Mulato-Clitoria increased milk yield by 80% and household income by 52% over 0.5 ha Napier grass monoculture. Possible income foregone from the crops which could have been grown on the additional 0.5 ha must be considered in assessing the economic viability of the system.
Highlights
Smallholder dairy farming systems dominate in the rural Eastern and Central African region, employ over 70% of the region’s population and contribute 70–90% of the total meat and milk output in the region (Njarui et al 2012)
This study was designed to develop economically feasible strategies for year-round feed supply to dairy cattle in order to improve feed resource availability, milk yield and household income, by comparing in on-farm trials the newly introduced drought-tolerant Mulato with commonly used Napier, both grown with a drought-tolerant legume
Intercropping Centro with Napier grass increased fodder availability by 52%, crude protein (CP) concentration by 20% and feeding period by 52% (Table 1)
Summary
Smallholder dairy farming systems dominate in the rural Eastern and Central African region, employ over 70% of the region’s population and contribute 70–90% of the total meat and milk output in the region (Njarui et al 2012). It is recommended that Mulato be grown to provide forage, when Napier grass production is low. It is generally recommended, that forages be grown in grass-legume mixtures in order to ensure energy-protein balance for livestock, and harness atmospheric nitrogen (N) via the legume component (Thomas 1995; Kabirizi 2006). Regardless of whether sown as a monocrop or in mixture with a legume, the officially recommended 0.5-ha Napier grass area is not sufficient to provide year-round forage for 1 cow and its calf. This study was designed to develop economically feasible strategies for year-round feed supply to dairy cattle in order to improve feed resource availability, milk yield and household income, by comparing in on-farm trials the newly introduced drought-tolerant Mulato with commonly used Napier, both grown with a drought-tolerant legume
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